Sharing the realty of social media and the choices young people face that can impact the rest of the life.

Sheriff: ‘Safe schools’ initiative ravaged California with drug addiction and fueled

SB 14 Fact Sheet as amended.pdf

Recently, Riverside County Sheriff, Chad Bianco was interviewed on

Sheriff Bianco stated that "a large portion of California's

Opal Singleton, Host of "Exploited Crime and Technology"

Currently there is new legislation being offered by Senator

The greatest power that a person possesses is the power to chose"

j.Martin Kohe

The past few weeks our nation has witnessed hundreds of young

This week on "Exploited: Crimes and Technology" we look

It feels like there are so many changes taking place in our

Lately, I have felt there is also a cycle of 24-7 negativity,

This week’s show is focused on how to be responsible for

I believe the greatest power a person has is to choose

Social media often offers a diversion to bored and lonely individuals, whether they are an 11-year-old young person seeking attention or a 45-year-old divorcee looking for a relationship or A 70-year retired person with time on their hands.  Dating apps, hook up apps, and mass audience live streaming apps like Tik Tok, Instagram or Discord, or Web Cam Sex Sites connect our world to millions of individuals we know nothing about.  This can lead to hooking up with total strangers, which can be exciting and stimulating and provide relief to a life of boredom and loneliness. It can also be very dangerous.

Fantasy relationships with people we meet online, allows us to control the narrative, and fill in the blanks that satisfy our perceived wants and needs.  Fantasy relationships tend to ignore the imperfections in real life.

The challenge is there is little verification that what you are perceiving has anything to do with reality.  It develops interactions based on your idea of what that person is, or may look like, and how they will meet your needs and wants.  We have a tendency to develop feelings and responses based on the “idea

Often people ask me what they can do to keep their family, their community safe from predators. The answer is “KNOW” your community. Get to know everyone on your block and look out for each other. During this show we will discuss signs and indicators that a structure may be being used to exploitation. This will include drug stash houses, illegal pot grow houses, buildings used to house undocumented people until they raise the funds to pay their captors, and buildings used as commercial and residential brothels. Most important we will talk about how to report a suspicious activity in your community without putting yourself and others in danger.

Running away is a serious problem. According to the National Runaway Switchboard, an organization that takes calls and helps kids who have run away or are thinking of running away, 1 in 7 kids between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away at some point. And there are 1 million to 3 million runaway and homeless kids living on the streets in the United States. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has stated that they believe that 1 in 6 kids who run away are at risk of being a victim of sex trafficking.

For nearly ten years Million Kids has operated the Million Kids Missing Kids program to assist parents in locating and the return of runaway and missing kids. We have sent out hundreds of thousands of flyers and been involved in the location or return of many missing teens.

Over the next two broadcasts of Exploited: Crimes and Technology program we will explore why kids run away and what parents can do to intervene. This week we will look at what kids are running “from”. There can be many factors that kids want to escape from. Perhaps they are being bullied at school, or the home is not safe from sexual or physical abuse, or the homelife is unstable for the minor, and sometimes it is because they are dealing with issues of abandonment, drug and alcohol use, or feeling the family unit is not stable.

The second part of this series we will examine what kids are running “to”. This can often be a fantasy relationship whether real or perceived, a new friend that is influencing them, or they are being groomed a new online relationship. Some kids fantasize about a life of freedom living on the streets and going where they want without supervision which works until reality sets in. Other teens hook up with people they have met on a dating site or video game chat room and just want to see what the person is really like but unfortunately they disappear.

Running away is a serious problem. According to the National Runaway Switchboard, an organization that takes calls and helps kids who have run away or are thinking of running away, 1 in 7 kids between the ages of 10 and 18 will run away at some point. And there are 1 million to 3 million runaway and homeless kids living on the streets in the United States. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has stated that they believe that 1 in 6 kids who run away are at risk of being a victim of sex trafficking.

For nearly ten years Million Kids has operated the Million Kids Missing Kids program to assist parents in locating and the return of runaway and missing kids. We have sent out hundreds of thousands of flyers and been involved in the location or return of many missing teens.

Over the next two podcasts, we will explore why kids run away and what parents can do to intervene. This week we will look at what kids are running “from”. There can be many factors that kids want to escape from. Perhaps they are being bullied at school, or the home is not safe from sexual or physical abuse, or the homelife is unstable for the minor, and sometimes it is because they are dealing with issues of abandonment, drug and alcohol use, or feeling the family unit is not stable.

The second part of this series we will examine what kids are running “to”. This can often be a fantasy relationship whether real or perceived, a new friend that is influencing them, or they are being groomed a new online relationship. Some kids fantasize about a life of freedom living on the streets and going where they want without supervision which works until reality sets in. Other teens hook up with people they have met on a dating site or video game chat room and just want to see what the person is really like but unfortunately they disappear.

The FBI says there are about 500,000 pedophiles online at any given time. What are the odds that they will connect with your child? Lately there is a new and terrifying trend that seems to make that statistic obsolete.

Father warns of Instagram 'sextortion' scam targeting teen boys after son's suicide: 'Evil' | Fox News

Dana Perino on Fox News recently interviewed Brian Montgomery. He is the father of Walker Montgomery, a totally successful, engaging young man who took his own life after being sextorted by a Nigerian telemarketing scam. It was a powerful interview that ever parent and teen needs to hear.

Late last year, the FBI issued a warning to parents, teens and educators of a scary new trend. As the entire world is connected with technology, overseas telemarketing companies are using their poor teens to use video games and chatrooms to connect with unsuspecting young guys in the U.S. and seduce them into sexual interaction through live streaming. It usually starts out looking like they are a “friend of a friend”. The interaction turns sexual very quickly. The young men fail to realize they are being filmed and the black mail for thousands of dollars is inhumane.

As in so many of these cases, the teen is hammered with ruthless threats in a short period of time and the teen panics, threatens suicide and like Walker Montgomery, they actually end up taking their own lives. This is tragic beyond words.

Our hearts go out to the Montgomery family. As they deal with their loss, their message to others is clear. Talk with your kids and let them know they are never alone and they cannot fight this alone. Check their phones and make sure they understand how sextortion works and how they can stay safe online. To learn more: Follow Million Kids on Facebook or go to Millionkids.org. To report sextortion, contact your local law enforcement or report 1-888-373-7888.

This week we have had the opportunity to work with some of the most dynamic individuals leading the charge to support victims of sex trafficking. During the show we talk about the services they provide. We also provide an update to what is happening in our communities as a result of the implementation of California SB 357. Literally vans of young girls are being brought in from out of state and loitering to solicit prostitution in front of Catholic schools and blocking the driveways for private residences.

Operation Reclaim and Rebuild: Riverside County Anti Human Trafficking Task Force (RCAHT) announced a successful operation working with the FBI where 31 individuals were arrested on a variety of charges including solicitation of prostitution, prostitution and pandering. Most important there were 31 arrests, and 7 potential victims of sex trafficking were rescued. This was part of a Statewide program where there were 368 arrests and 131 potential sex trafficking victims were rescued. RCAHT is victim focused and the Task Force works closely with victim services providers to ensure they are provided with resources to escape and heal.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Victim Advocates: Million Kids had the opportunity to meet many of the Victim Advocates serving San Bernardino County and share about the crime of sextortion. These are extraordinary individuals who work diligently to provide specialized services for victims of crime.

Mama’s House: Desert area. Mama’s House held a fundraiser to expand their campus. What an incredible event. Dr. Ben Carson was the key note speaker and he mesmerized over 1000 people with inspirational stories of his life. It was heartwarming to see so many highly successful individuals willing to support a program that makes it possible for pregnant teens to deliver and keep their babies when they find themselves in a situation where they have little structure or financial support. Congratulations Jan Lupia. It was a fantastic experience.